MECHANISM OF SELF-MODE-LOCKING IN THE ACT IVE MEDIUM OF CO2-LASERS

It was found that, unless measures were taken to ensure single-mode em ission, the dynamics of atmospheric-pressure CO2 lasers resulted in mo de-locking. This occurred primarily because df the high rate of the VV and RR exchange processes and because of the much higher (compared wi th nonpulsing radiation) gain due to the dependence of the gain-satura tion radiation intensity on the degree of overlap of the fields of cou nterpropagating waves in the active medium of the laser.